Oak tree named &#39;qnstd&#39;

ABSTRACT

An oak tree named ‘QNSTD’ having a dense branching habit and consistent red new growth persisting in summer, and also capable of being reproduced reliably using vegetative cuttings.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

Quercus nuttallii

VARIETY DENOMINATION:

‘QNSTD’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Quercusnuttallii, which has been given the varietal name ‘QNSTD’. I discoveredmy new tree in 2000 as a chance seedling in a cultivated area of anursery in Oconee County, Georgia.

The parentage of this tree is unclear. It is definitely a red oak typetree. Representative species include Pin Oak (Q. palustris), or Red Oak(Q. rubra). There are also several related species, including NuttallOak (Q. nuttallii), Shumard Oak (Q. shumardii), and Scarlet Oak (Q.coccinea). My new tree has characteristics and a history that haveprevented making an exact identification of its species, but Nuttall Oakappears to be the closest.

Nuttall Oak, as well as most other red oak types, readily hybridize withone another, and there is a high probability that this tree is a resultof a cross between a Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak or some other speciesof red oak, since Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak overlap one another acrossmuch of their range. For example, in Texas, Nuttall is found in thelower Southeast comer of the state, Shumard is located in a wide bandcovering most of the eastern part of the state, and Texas Red Oak (Q.texana), is the primary tree in the central part of the state east ofDallas. There is also a large swath of habitat between the primaryShumard and Texas Red Oak regions where the predominant tree is a hybridbetween Shumard and Texas Red Oak. Hybrids are common and can easilymake up a large population of the trees in any given area.

My original tree had been purchased as a 12 to 18 inch liner in spring1998 and at that time planted in a liner field. This tree wastransplanted to another field in spring 2000 and was subsequentlydiscovered by me. In December 2003, it was transplanted to anobservation area where it has remained since that time. It is now 7years old from a seed. The description of this new Oak variety is basedon observations of this original tree and of up to three year oldasexually propagated progeny, produced from vegetative propagation thatare being grown at a nursery in Oconee County, Georgia.

The original tree has displayed characteristics resembling Nuttall Oakand Shumard Oak. There is much confusion over the exact identificationof this tree, and several experienced individuals have expresseddiffering opinions. The only consistency has been the opinion that theacorn is generally the most distinguishing characteristic determiningthe species difference between Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak. Whencompared to the above oaks, the acorns on my new tree most resembleNuttall Oak, which indicates that the tree is most likely a Nuttall Oakor at least has Nuttall Oak as one of its parents. Other physicalcharacteristics of the tree, such as leaf size, sinus depth, or budfeatures, do not provide definitive answers as to the true parentage ofthe tree.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As I observed the original tree of my new variety, the uniqueness ofthis tree became apparent because of its dense branching habit andconsistent red new growth persisting into summer. These characteristicsdistinguish my new tree from other Nuttall Oaks of which I am aware.

My new variety has been asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in2001 at my direction in Oconee County, Georgia. The progeny have thusfar proven to retain the dense branching habit and consistent red newgrowth persisting into summer of the original tree, even as smallerplants. This propagation and observation of the resulting progenydemonstrates that the ‘QNSTD’ variety reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. Furthermore, theseobservations have confirmed that my new variety represents a new andimproved variety of oak tree, which appears to be a variation of NuttallOak trees based upon observations of acorns in the original tree and asparticularly evidenced by the dense branching pattern and consistent rednew growth persisting in summer, and which can reliably be asexuallypropagated using vegetative propagation.

I observed this tree of my new variety for a period of time and believeit is particularly useful as a specimen or for groupings in lawns,parks, golf courses, commercial landscapes, and as a street tree. Itprovides good shade, has an above average growing rate, and has goodstructural branching. It also provides ornamental interest with itsconsistent red new growth persisting in summer.

Cultivated Nuttall Oak is represented in the industry mostly by seedlingmaterial. Seedling material has a wide range of variability, and as isillustrated by information in this patent, there may be uncertainty asto the trueness of type from the seed. My new tree has a dense branchinghabit and consistent red new growth persisting in summer not representedconsistently by any other Nuttall Oak tree cultivar known to me. ‘QNFTA’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,524) and ‘QNSTC’ (U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 10/823,472) are Nuttall cultivars that have anupright-pyramidal branching habit, and a consistent red fall coloredfoliage. However, both of these selections lack a consistent red newgrowth persisting into summer.

Typical Nuttall and Shumard are pyramidal trees that become morespreading with age. ‘QNSTD’ has a dense shape and a full, dense canopyand a central leader that is more typical of a Nuttall Oak tree. BothNuttall Oak and Shumard Oak typically reach 40 to 60 feet high and widein the landscape, but can reach 100 feet or more in nature. The ultimateheight and width of ‘QNSTD’ is not known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree and foliage ofmy new variety as nearly as is reasonably possible to make the same in acolor illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the original tree of my new variety during thespring with red new growth.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the original tree of my new variety in summerleaf.

FIG. 3 is a close up of three single leaves depicting the upper side ofleaves from a tree of my new variety. The US Quarter Dollar in thepicture provides a sizing reference.

FIG. 4 is a close up of three single leaves depicting the under side ofleaves from a tree of my new variety.

FIG. 5 is a close up of two leaves depicting the new growth color duringthe spring.

FIG. 6 is a close up of three leaves depicting fall leaf color of my newvariety.

FIG. 7 is a close up of a typical section of the trunk of the originaltree of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

My ‘QNSTD’ variety of Oak tree is currently growing at an observationsite in Oconee County, Georgia. It is located in an area of Oconee thathas a clay loam soil type and receives approximately 50 inches of rainper year. Oconee County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7. BothNuttall and Shumard are typically hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9.

My new tree has not been observed under all growing conditions, andthus, variations may occur as a result of different growing conditions.The following is a detailed description of my new variety of my new treewith color terminology in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety (RHS) color chart published by The Royal Horticultural Societyin London. The observations are of the original seven year old treegrowing at the observation site in Oconee County, Georgia and, whereyoung trees are indicated below, the observations are of up to threeyear old progeny growing at this location.

-   Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling in a production field at    a nursery in Oconee County, Georgia. The parentage of this tree is    believed to include Nuttall Oak, but is not extremely clear for    reasons explained above.-   Tree Shape: The original tree has a dense canopy, with a central    leader (FIGS. 1 and 2).-   Size and growth rate: The original tree is currently 5.5 inches in    caliper at 12 inches above the ground, about 20 feet high, and about    11 feet wide, thus providing an overall height to width ratio of    about 1.8. Prior to transplanting to the observation site, the    original tree had an average growth in caliper of about 0.92 inches    per year. Root development from time of sticking is approximately    six to eight weeks.-   Trunk: Bark is typical of the species (FIG. 7), being smooth and    gray (grayed-green) (RHS 188B) with patches of light gray (RHS 156D)    on young trees, with age, becoming roughened by shallow ridges and    furrows. Mature bark is darker gray (RHS 198B) with patches of light    gray (RHS 156D), also typical of the species.-   Branching habit: Primary branches emerge from the trunk at about a    65 degree angle to the leader. Some of the branches in the top    one-half of the tree emerge at slightly less of an angle, approx. 50    degree angle to the leader. We expect with age the angle to increase    with respect to the leader.-   Foliage: The leaves of Nuttall, Shumard, and Pin all resemble one    another, and my tree has leaves that are typical of the species Q.    nuttallii in size and shape: Alternate, simple, obovate to elliptic,    4 to 9″ long, 2 to 5″ wide, with 5 to 9 lobes. Sinuses are round    with narrow lobes. The leaves maintain a dark green upper surface    color in summer (FIG. 3) (RHS 137C), and the lower leaf surface    (FIG. 4) is a lighter green (RHS 138B). My new tree has consistent    fall color (FIG. 6) which ranges from orange-red (RHS 32B) to    yellow-orange (RHS 17D). New growth in the spring (FIGS. 1 and 5) is    a consistent deep red (RHS 59A) and persists into summer. The stems    turn a deep red (RHS 59A) in the spring during leaf out before    turning back to their summer color.-   Buds: Typical of the species, being imbricate, ⅛ to ¼″ long,    ash-gray to brown-gray, and pubescent with ciliate scale margins.-   Flowers: Typical of the species. However, most oaks have flowers so    similar that it is difficult to distinguish between species based on    flower type alone. The trees are monoecious. The staminate catkins    are pendent and clustered. The individual flowers comprise a 4- to    7-lobed calyx that encloses 6 to 12 stamens. Pistillate flowers are    solitary or in few to many-flowered spikes from the axils of the new    leaves. Individual pistillate flowers consist of a 6-lobed calyx    surrounding the ovary, with the whole partly enclosed in an    involucre.-   Fruit: Acorns have only been observed in the original tree of my    variety and are typical of the Nuttall Oak species. Acorns are    ovate, ¾ to 1¼″ long, short-stalked, oblong-ovoid, and covered ⅓ to    2 by the cap. The acorn is gray-orange (RHS 165A) with dark brown    (RHS 200B) striations. The cap is light brown (RHS 199C).-   Root system: The root system is typical of the species being    fibrous.-   Winter hardiness: Observed to be hardy in at least USDA Hardiness    Zone 7. My new tree variety has not been observed under multiple    Zones.-   Disease and pest resistance: My new tree variety appears to be    typical of the species.

1. A new and distinct variety of oak tree substantially as herein shownand described, characterized by its dense branching habit and itsconsistent red new growth persisting in summer.